Outdoor Pants For Women

ABSTRACT

A relief opening for a pair of women&#39;s pants, the opening formed in a center relief panel joining leg portions of the pants in at least a downward-facing central portion of the crotch area. The relief panel includes two separable and overlapping layers or flaps of fabric over at least a center portion of the panel in the downward-facing central portion of the crotch region of the panel. Each separable flap has an unattached, reinforced relief seam or edge facing and adjacent the opposite leg, each relief seam over- or under-lapping the other separable flap. At rest, the relief seams are positioned on opposite sides of a centerline of the center relief panel, and the flaps are closed, such that the center portion of the panel generally appears and functions as a single, solid, closed panel from at least the front and back of the pants. When the relief seams are pulled apart, the flaps are separated along the narrowed center portion of the panel to create a generally ovoid opening in the crotch area, positioned for a woman&#39;s anatomy during urination.

RELATED APPLICATIONS/PRIORITY BENEFIT CLAIM

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Nos. 61/751,580 and 61/870,616 filed Jan. 11, 2013 and Aug. 27, 2013, respectively, by the same inventor (Namy), the entireties of which provisional applications are hereby incorporated by reference.

FIELD

The subject matter of the present application is in the field of clothing for women, in particular active wear for outdoor activities.

BACKGROUND

Women generally find it more inconvenient than men to relieve themselves when outdoors, because the need to remove pants and undergarments to do so leaves them more exposed. One solution has been to provide outdoor-oriented pants or shorts with a relief opening centered in the crotch between the front and back of the pants. For modesty and weather protection, the relief opening is closeable with a mechanical closure such as snaps, hook-and-loop, or a zipper.

Such relief openings generally seem to provide closures along leg seams, with the added snaps, zips, etc. located at the junctions of the flaps/panels with the normal pant seams. Problems with such solutions include unsightly lines; unwanted visibility of the relief feature; bulk and discomfort between the legs, especially for active pursuits like hiking, running, and biking; and potential seam failure with the introduction of snaps, zips, etc. into the seams of the pants at natural stress points.

BRIEF SUMMARY

I have invented a pant with a woman-specific relief opening in the crotch that solves the foregoing problems with the prior art. My opening is believed to be simpler, less expensive, more comfortable, less visible, more durable, and more practical than prior pants with relief openings for women.

My pants include leg portions joined by a center relief panel. The relief panel includes two separable and overlapping layers or flaps of fabric over at least a center portion of the panel in a downward-facing (central) crotch region of the panel. Each separable flap has an unattached, reinforced relief seam facing and adjacent the opposite leg, each relief seam over- or under-lapping the other separable flap. At rest, the relief seams are positioned on opposite sides of a centerline of the center relief panel, and the flaps are closed, such that at least a center portion of the panel generally appears and functions as a single, solid, closed panel when viewed from the front and back of the pants. When the relief seams are pulled apart, the flaps are separated along at least a center portion of the panel to create a generally ovoid opening in the crotch area, positioned for a woman's anatomy during urination.

In a further form, the outermost relief seam (on the outer separable flap) coincides with the pant seam where the inner separable flap is attached to a leg of the pant, in order to visually minimize the outermost relief seam.

In a further form, at least the outermost relief seam terminates at points in the central region of the center relief panel, so that the points are generally downward-facing when the pants are worn, further minimizing the visibility of the relief seam.

In a further form, at least the outermost relief seam is reinforced in a manner that makes it appear as a normal attached seam.

In a further form, at least one of the relief seams has a contour with a greater angle or degree of curvature than that of the panel edge of which it is a part.

My invention includes two embodiments. A first embodiment uses a full-length, substantially rectangular center relief panel running through the crotch region of the pants, with two outer edge seams running from a center region of the front hem to a center region of the rear hem. A second embodiment uses a shorter, partial-length, gusset-type panel with two outer edge seams that terminate at front and rear points on front and rear center seams extending upwardly from the panel ends to the front and rear hem.

In one form of the first embodiment, the full-length relief panel includes a narrower center portion in a downward-facing (central) crotch region of the panel, the narrowed center portion including the two separable and overlapping flaps of fabric.

In one form of the second embodiment, the partial-length relief panel includes a wider center portion. The entirety of the inner and outer layers of panel fabric may be separable. Alternately, separability of the inner and outer layers of panel fabric to form a relief opening may be limited to the wider center region.

These and other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the detailed description below, in light of the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of the pants of according to a first embodiment of the invention with a full-length relief panel, as viewed from the front of the pants.

FIG. 1A is similar to FIG. 1, but shows the legs and the two layers of the center relief panel exploded or separated horizontally.

FIG. 2 is a vertically exploded view of the inventive relief panel of FIG. 1 in an exemplary two-layer construction.

FIG. 2A is a bottom plan view of the crotch region of a pair of pants modified according to FIG. 1, in particular of the narrowed center portion of the inventive relief panel in an embodiment with essentially straight relief seams.

FIG. 2B is similar to FIG. 2A, but shows two separable flaps of the narrowed center portion of the panel pulled apart to provide a relief opening.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of a relief panel similar to that of FIG. 2, except that the narrowed center portion includes separable flaps with curved relief seams.

FIG. 3A is a bottom plan view of the crotch region of a pair of pants, similar to FIG. 2A but in an embodiment of FIG. 3 with curved relief seams.

FIG. 3B shows two separable flaps of the narrowed center portion of the panel in FIG. 3A pulled apart at the curved relief seams to provide a relief opening.

FIG. 4 is a front elevation view of the pants of according to a second embodiment of the invention with a partial-length relief panel, as viewed from the front of the pants.

FIG. 5 is a rear view of the pants of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6A is a bottom plan view of the crotch region of the pants of FIG. 4, showing a partial-length relief panel with curved relief seams in a closed conditions.

FIG. 6B is similar to FIG. 6A, but shows the separable flaps of the partial-length relief panel pulled apart at the curved relief seams to provide a relief opening.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring first to FIGS. 1, 1A, and 2, a pair of women's pants 10 with a center relief panel 20 according to the invention is shown in exemplary form, in order to teach how to make and use the claimed invention. While a pair of long pants of a generic style is used for purposes of illustration, the inventive relief panel can be applied to many different types of long pants and shorts, provided that the pants are made from a fabric that is amenable to incorporating seamed fabric panels into the crotch region between the legs. Athletic and outdoor-oriented pants will benefit the most from the inventive relief panel, but the invention could be applied to casual slacks, jeans, dress pants, and other styles of pant, without limitation.

Relief panel 20 is located between and connects the legs 15 of the pants 10 at seams 32, 42. When incorporated into a pair of pants 10, the relief panel 20 has a front portion 22 corresponding to the front of the pants, a narrowed center portion 24 located at the generally downward-facing central portion of the crotch area between the legs, and a rear portion 26 (essentially identical to 22) on the rear-facing seat of the pants. Relief panel 20 is preferably made from the same fabric as the remainder of pants 10, or from a fabric that matches the color of the remainder of the pants.

Relief panel 20 has an at least partially two-layer construction, in the illustrated embodiment a full two-layer construction best shown in FIG. 2 with a full-length outer panel 30 and a substantially equally sized and shaped inner panel 40 extending completely around the pants from the front waist to the back waist. Outer panel 30 and inner panel 40 are attached to the legs 15 of the pants at their edge seams 32 and 42, using any known sewing or fabric-joining technique (hereafter referred to as sewing for convenience). Referring to FIG. 2, outer panel 30 has an outer edge 32 intended to be sewn to one leg of a pair of pants, and an inner edge 34 intended to be sewn at end portions to an opposite leg of a pair of pants. At least a central portion 36 of inner edge 34 is left un-sewn to form a free edge. Panel 30 narrows from its ends toward its center C, and the narrowing may take different angles or degrees of curvature depending on the style of pants into which the panel is incorporated. In the illustrated example of FIG. 2, edges 32 and 34 run in substantially straight lines from ends 22 and 26 toward center C, at a constant angle. If mildly curved to accommodate the cut of the pants, the degree of curvature of the edges would be essentially constant from end to end in the example of FIG. 2. Although the edges 32, 34 and 42, 44 are shown in the illustrated example with similar proportions and angles, it should be understood that the sewn outer edges 32, 42 could be differently shaped or angled relative to their inner edges 34, 44.

Still referring to FIG. 2, inner panel 40 is substantially identical to outer panel 30, but oriented in minor fashion so that its outer edge 42 is sewn to an opposite leg of the pants, and so that its central free edge portion 46 of inner edge 44 is oppositely located relative to the free edge portion 36 of outer panel 32.

FIG. 2A represents a bottom plan view of the two-layer relief panel 20 of FIG. 2 incorporated into a pair of pants, with edges 32 and 42 sewn to opposite legs 15 of pants 10. Inner -“free”- or panel-opening edge 34 remains free or un-sewn to the adjacent pant leg 15 at least over its central relief opening area 36, which may be reinforced over some or all of its length with a stiffener, extra layer of fabric, piping, or other known techniques at 36 a to make it easier to find and manipulate with the fingers. In the illustrated example, panel-opening edge 34 remains un-sewn to the pant leg over substantially the entire length visible in FIG. 2A (the downward-facing portion of the panel), in order to create a bigger relief opening. The remainder of edge 34, i.e. its upper ends at the front and rear of the pants, preferably is sewn to the opposing pant leg along the front and rear of the pants . Also, although in the illustrated example panel-opening edge 34 of the outer panel layer 30 is shown extending beyond the sewn edge 42 of the inner panel layer 40 for visibility in the drawing, in practice it is preferred that edge 34 be aligned with the underlying sewn edge 42 to camouflage the relief-oriented nature of the panel 20. It is also possible to have panel-opening edge 34 positioned inwardly of underlying sewn edge 42, i.e. closer to the centerline x of panel 20 from front to back.

Still referring to FIG. 2A, the edge 44 of inner panel 40 is substantially aligned with, and located underneath, the sewn edge 32 of outer panel 30. Inner “free” or panel-opening edge 44 of inner panel 40 remains un-sewn to the adjacent pant leg 15 at least over its central relief opening area 46, similar to edge 34 on panel 30, and in the illustrated example remains un-sewn to the pant leg over substantially the entire length visible in FIG. 2A, substantially equal to the un-sewn length of panel-opening edge 34 on the outer panel.

FIG. 2B shows the free, un-sewn central relief portions 36, 46 of panel-opening edges 34, 44 pulled apart to form an ovoid relief opening 50 at a downward-facing, central region of the crotch area of the pants. In the example of FIG. 2B the un-sewn portions of panel-opening edges 34 and 44 beyond central relief portions 36 and 46 are also moved out of alignment with corresponding sewn edges 32 and 42, so that the opening 50 may be enlarged and lengthened beyond the region of central relief portions 36 and 46, if desired. The opening 50 is located to be aligned with the female anatomy for urination.

FIG. 3 illustrates an alternate panel form 20′ in which the central relief edge portions 36′ and 46′ have been angled or curved more acutely than the remainder of their respective panel-opening edges 34 and 44. This alternate cut simplifies manipulation of the relief opening by the user, with less need for reinforcement along the outer panel's central relief portion 36′. However, the visibility of the relief-oriented nature of the panel is increased from certain angles, and weather-protection and privacy may be reduced. FIGS. 3A and 3B show the center crotch portion of the modified relief panel 20′ in both the closed and open positions, respectively, similar to FIGS. 2A and 2B. The more acute cut of the central relief portions 36′ and 46′ may make it more desirable and practical for the remainder of their corresponding panel-opening edges 34 and 44 to be sewn to their respective pant leg seams.

As in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the cut of the free central relief portions 36′ and 46′ of the respective panel layers places the panel-opening edges on opposite sides of the longitudinal centerline x of the panel 20′, adjacent the opposing leg, so that a significant over/under-lap of the panel layers is maintained. This keeps the relief opening closed during normal activity. For some types of activity such as yoga, where the woman wearing the pants may be in positions exposing the central, normally downward-facing crotch area at relief edge portions 36 and 46 to view while engaged in strenuous motion, it may be desirable to provide a small patch of hook-and-loop or some other relatively flat fastener to the mating faces of the outer and inner panels 30 and 40, in order to supplement the natural bias of edges portions 36 and 46 to stay in the closed position.

FIGS. 4, 5, and 6A-6B show a pair of pants 110 with a second embodiment 120 of the inventive relief panel. Relief panel 120 is located between and connects the legs 15 of the pants 10 at seams 132, 142. When incorporated into a pair of pants 10, much smaller portions of the panel 120 are visible from the front (FIG. 4) and rear (FIG. 5) of the pants. Relief panel 120 is preferably made from the same fabric as the remainder of pants 110, or from a fabric that matches the color of the remainder of the pants.

Relief panel 120 has an at least partially two-layer construction, in the illustrated embodiment a full two-layer construction best shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, with a diamond- or ovoid-shaped outer panel 130 and a substantially equally sized and shaped inner panel 140 extending between lower or terminal points or ends 123, 127 of front and rear center seams 122 and 126 extending to the front waist and to the back waist of the pants. Outer panel 130 and inner panel 140 are attached to the legs 15 of the pants at their outer edge seams 132 and 142, using any known sewing or fabric-joining technique (hereafter referred to as sewing for convenience). As best shown in FIG. 6A, outer panel 130 has an outer edge 132 intended to be sewn to one leg 15 of a pair of pants, and an inner panel-opening edge 134 intended to be sewn at its ends to the opposite leg 15 of the pair of pants. At least a central portion 136 of panel-opening edge 134 is left un-sewn to form a free (unsewn, openable) relief edge portion Panel 130 widens from its ends to toward its center, and the widening may take different angles or degrees of curvature depending on the style of pants into which the panel is incorporated.

Although the respective overlying edges 132, 144 and 142, 134 of panel 120 are shown in the illustrated example with similar proportions and angles relative to one another, it should be understood that the sewn outer edges 132, 142 could be differently shaped or angled relative to their respective inner, panel-opening edges 134, 144. Also, although the illustrated example shows generally ovoid panel 120 terminating at single points 123 and 127 on single center front and back seams 122 and 126, it would also be possible to “flatten” the ends of the ovoid panel 120 so that the ends of the panel have two points joining two front seams 122 and two back seams 126.

Still referring to FIG. 6A, inner panel 140 is substantially identical to outer panel 130, but oriented in minor fashion so that its outer edge 142 is sewn to an opposite leg of the pants, and so that the central unsewn free portion 146 of panel-opening edge 144 is oppositely located relative to the central free portion 136 of panel-opening edge 134 on outer panel 130.

Panel-opening edge 134 remains un-sewn to the adjacent pant leg 15 at least over its central relief opening area 136, which may be reinforced over some or all of its length with a stiffener, extra layer of fabric, piping, or other known techniques at 136 a to make it easier to find and manipulate with the fingers. In the illustrated example, panel-opening edge 134 remains un-sewn to the pant leg over only the central portion 136 of its length, but edge 134 may be left unsewn substantially over its entire length between points 123 and 127, in order to create a bigger relief opening. Panel-opening edge 134 of the outer panel layer 130 is shown substantially aligned with the underlying sewn edge 142 of the inner panel to help camouflage the relief-oriented nature of the panel 120. It is also possible to have panel-opening edge 134 positioned inwardly of underlying inner panel sewn edge 142, i.e. closer to the centerline x of panel 20 from front to back.

Still referring to FIG. 6A, the panel-opening edge 144 of inner panel 140 is substantially aligned with, and located underneath, the sewn edge 132 of outer panel 130. Panel-opening edge 144 remains un-sewn to the adjacent pant leg 15 at least over its central relief opening area 146, substantially equal to the un-sewn length of edge 134 on the outer panel, and may remain un-sewn to the pant leg over substantially its entire length visible for a wider relief opening.

FIG. 6B shows the free, un-sewn central relief portions 136, 146 of panel-opening edges 134, 144 pulled apart to form an ovoid relief opening 150 at a downward-facing, central region of the crotch area of the pants. Any un-sewn portions of edges 134 and 144 beyond central relief portions 136 and 146 may also be moved out of alignment with corresponding sewn edges 142 and 132, so that the opening 150 may be enlarged and lengthened beyond the region of central relief edge portions 136 and 146, if desired (similar to the enlarged opening 50 in FIG. 2B). The opening 150 is located to be aligned with the female anatomy for urination.

It should be understood that the spacing of outer panel-opening edge 134 from underlying sewn edge 142 in FIGS. 4 and 5 is exaggerated for visibility. In practice, edge 134 is preferably more closely aligned with sewn edge 142 of the inner panel 140 in order to better hide the relief-oriented nature of panel 120.

Description of Operation

Operation will be described with reference to the first embodiment of FIGS. 1 through 3B, although it will be understood that use of the relief opening in the second embodiment of FIGS. 4 through 6B is essentially identical.

During normal wear of a pair of pants 10 incorporating relief panel 20, the relief opening edges 36 and 46 in the central area of the outer and inner flaps 30 and 40 remain closed and relatively unnoticeable to a casual observer. When a woman wearing pants 10 needs to relieve herself where it is inconvenient to pull her pants down, she can simply pull and hold the opening flaps apart to create the opening 50 illustrated in FIGS. 2B and 3B for as long as needed. Depending on the size of the opening 50, the stretchiness of the material used for layers 30 and 40, and the extent to which the inside edges 34 and 44 of the flap layers remain un-sewn on either side of the edges 36 and 46, she may not need to squat down, or may only need to squat partway. When finished, letting go of the edges 36 and 46 allows the bias cut and shape of the fabric to return the edges to their closed positions shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B.

It is envisioned that pants 10 with the inventive relief panel be primarily used without underwear, for greater ease of use when relieving oneself. To complement this use, it is desirable to line the inside surface of the inner flap 40 with a soft, non-chafing material such as terry or fleece. Alternately, a hung liner of soft, non-chafing material might be added to the interior of the pants overlying the inner flap 40, capable of being pulled out of the way when the relief panel is opened; such liners are known in bathing suits, for example.

The inventive relief panel 20 and its closure-free opening 50 defined by edges 36 and 46 (and optionally by additional unsewn portions of 34 and 44) is simple, comfortable, discreet, easy to operate, provides a wide opening, and is generally hidden from view both by its location and the manner in which the panel layers are overlapped and attached to the pants. The same is true of panel 120 and its opening 150.

It will finally be understood that the disclosed embodiments represent presently preferred examples of how to make and use the invention, but are intended to enable rather than limit the invention. Variations and modifications of the illustrated examples in the foregoing written specification and drawings may be possible without departing from the scope of the invention. It should further be understood that to the extent the term “invention” is used in the written specification, it is not to be construed as a limiting term as to number of claimed or disclosed inventions or discoveries or the scope of any such invention or discovery, but as a term which has long been conveniently and widely used to describe new and useful improvements in science and the useful arts. The scope of the invention supported by the above disclosure should accordingly be construed within the scope of what it teaches and suggests to those skilled in the art, and within the scope of any claims that the above disclosure supports in this application or in any other application claiming priority to this application. 

What is claimed:
 1. In a pair of women's pants comprising two legs, a front, a back, a waist, and a crotch region, a women's relief feature comprising: a relief panel joining the two legs over at least a downward-facing central portion of the crotch region, the relief panel comprising overlapping and at least partially separable layers or flaps of fabric including respective relief portions that are separable over at least a center portion of the panel in the downward-facing central portion of the crotch, each panel comprising an unsewn relief edge portion facing and adjacent the opposite leg, each unsewn relief edge portion over- or under-lapping the other separable flap, such that in an at-rest condition the relief edge portions are positioned on opposite sides of a longitudinal centerline of the relief panel, and the flaps are closed, and the relief edges may be pulled apart along the center portion of the panel to create a generally ovoid opening in the crotch area positioned for a woman's anatomy during urination.
 2. The women's relief feature of claim 1, wherein the relief panel comprises a full-length, substantially rectangular center relief panel running through the crotch region of the pants, the relief panel comprising two outer edges running from a center region of the front hem to a center region of the rear hem.
 3. The women's relief feature of claim 2, wherein the full-length relief panel includes a narrower center portion in the downward-facing central portion of the crotch region, the narrowed center portion including the separable portions of the inner and outer panels.
 4. The women's relief feature of claim 1, wherein the relief panel comprises a partial-length, gusset-type panel comprising two outer edge seams that terminate at front and rear ends on front and rear center seams of the pants extending upwardly from the panel ends to the front and rear waist.
 5. The women's relief feature of claim 4, wherein the two outer edge seams terminate at front and rear points on front and rear center seams of the pants extending upwardly from the panel ends to the front and rear waist. 